Hyperthermia improves Clinical Outcome
Randomized clinical trials (RCT’s) have been shown significant improvement in clinical outcome when hyperthermia was added to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. In 2004 experts in clinical hyperthermia held a consensus meeting (Kadota Fund International Forum 2004) about the evidence of the published clinical results of the RCT’s. Level 1 evidence was found for bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the esophagus, lymph nodes of head and neck tumors, rectum cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, malignant melanoma, glioblastoma multiform, and various superficial cancers.
Meanwhile more RCT’s have been published (e. g. for chest wall recurrences of breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, pediatric germ cell tumors). These RCT’s are also classified as level 1 evidence and have been collected up to 2013.
Reference:
Van der Zee et al. The Kadota Fund International Forum 2004 – Clinical group consensus. Int J Hyperthermia. 2008 March;24(2):111-122
* Pediatric cancer statistics from non-randomized study.